Loughborough has been named the best sporting university in the world.

The annual QS world university rankings by subject, released yesterday (Wednesday 8 March), saw Loughborough ranked joint-first with the University of Sydney, in Australia.

The rankings company based its findings on surveying academic staff and employers which seek to employ graduates that specialise in the discipline and research output.

The university has also been shortlisted in nine of the 12 categories at the separate Whatuni Student Choice Awards, based on ratings by students.

It will be judged in the overall University of the Year), student support, job prospects, students' union, clubs and societies, university facilities, accommodation, giving back and international categories.

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On the QS ranking, Professor Mark Lewis, dean of the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences said: "It is fantastic to see our university's expertise in this area recognised on a global stage.

"To be named best in the world is testament to the high-quality research we undertake and the high calibre of graduates we produce."

Ben Sowter, head of research at QS, said: "Loughborough has an outstanding reputation as a producer of elite sportspeople – but this year's inaugural ranking demonstrates prospective sporting students will receive an education as noteworthy for its theoretical focus as for its practical."

Loughborough has also been ranked in the global top-50 for other subjects, including 36th in the world for Art and Design, 39th for Communication and Media Studies and 47th for Architecture/Built environment.

Loughborough was named University of the Year in the Whatuni awards in 2015 and runner-up last year.

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Vice-chancellor, Professor Bob Allison, said: "It's a great achievement to have been nominated in nine of the 12 categories and, coupled with our past successes in the awards, it shows we must be doing something right.

"What's more, the awards are made all the more important by the fact that they're voted for by students."

Simon Emmett, chief executive of Whatuni.com parent company Hotcourses Group, said: "We're delighted to see universities that are being nominated for a number of categories across the board at this year's awards.

"It truly reflects a student experience that goes beyond teaching excellence and touches on all aspects of a student's life."